Stern Wants Out of Job Now

Howard Stern (search) — claiming he's being "jerked around" and "threatened" by his bosses — says he might start on satellite radio a lot sooner than Jan. 1, 2006.

"A buddy of mine who shall remain nameless says ... Viacom is trying to get Sirius (search) [Satellite Radio] to pay off my contract and then I would leave early 'cause Sirius is anxious to get the show started," Stern told listeners Wednesday.

The top-rated bad boy — who shocked the radio world last month with the announcement he was quitting broadcast radio to take a big-money offer from satellite radio — has been sounding uncharacteristically depressed of late.

He says he's being peppered by "legal letters" and "threats" from Viacom (search) lawyers.

And elsewhere around the country — Stern airs in 46 cities — his show is being heavily censored by Infinity, Viacom's radio unit.

"Jimmy Kimmel wrote me [that] they're trashing the show [in L.A.], cutting pieces out and putting in more commercials than ever," Stern said.

"I'm like, 'Dude, I'm so outta here, let 'em do whatever they want.'"

Stern even attacked the head of Infinity — dubbing him "Joel 'dangerously close to losing his position' Hollander" — and claimed Hollander is "busy meeting with lawyers [to] see if I violated my contract in some way.